Ecobuild and the NBS to drive BIM education for all

Ecobuild has joined forces with NBS to deliver free Building Information Modelling (BIM) training for every level – from the technical and granular, through to the basics for those just starting out.

Taking place at the 2015 event (3 to 5 March, ExCeL London) Ecobuild will work with the NBS team, to up-skill the entire BIM chain, including architects, designers, engineers, surveyors and facilities managers with a three-day seminar programme.

The Government's Construction Strategy and its requirement for 'fully collaborative 3D BIM as a minimum by 2016 is fast approaching, yet there is still considerable disparity in understanding of what BIM means and a lack of good implementation case studies. As the first live event to provide free BIM education for all, Ecobuild will help to address this knowledge gap.

Ian Chapman, Director of the NBS National BIM Library and Director of buildSMART UK commented, "Our latest National BIM Report showed that awareness of BIM is now nearly universal in the UK at 95%. The challenge, however, is the lack of confidence the industry has in implementing it. According to our research, lack of in-house expertise is one of the biggest barriers to successful adoption."

He went on to add, "Cross discipline adoption and ownership of BIM is only going to be achieved through better understanding and training. At Ecobuild 2015 we will be in the final countdown to the government mandate on BIM. The industry has a lot to do to be ready."

Ecobuild has built its reputation upon world-class learning and development offered free to its growing community of 43,000+ professionals from across the sustainable built environment.

"The hunger for BIM knowledge, technology and case studies amongst Ecobuild's community is ever growing" said Alison Jackson, Group Director of Sustainability & Construction, Ecobuild. "As the sustainable design, construction and energy marketplace for new build, refurb, commercial and domestic buildings Ecobuild opens doors for BIM suppliers keen to develop commercial relationships with the wider BIM community and grow their business as part of this exciting movement" she adds.

Following the event this March, 75% of attendees said that the free to attend seminars were highly/quite important in their decision to attend Ecobuild with a stunning 85% of architects claiming this to be the most important aspect in their decision to attend.

Equally, 87% of attendees cited new products and services as a top reason to attend the event of which BIM services and technologies form a vital part.

Alison Jackson concludes: "There is a wealth of BIM knowledge out there which simply needs showcasing and who better to help us than NBS, founders of the NBS National BIM Library? We are excited about the commercial and collaboration opportunities this new partnership will bring to the industry."

Are you a BIM supplier keen to exhibit as part of Ecobuild's BIM area? Please contact Martin Hurn, Sales Director on T: +44 (0)20 7560 4072 or email martin.hurn@ubm.com.

For further information about Ecobuild 2015, taking place from 3 to 5 March 2015 at London's ExCeL, please visit www.ecobuild.co.uk.